Purchasing a wing for cold water diving (Single Tank)

[Alekath]

Recently purchased a Hollis Solo harness and backplate (Aluminium and Stainless), amazing clearance deal. This is for my change into diving with a backplate and wing, also my first setup I own myself. Now I’m looking for a wing and need any advice on decent wings and the appropriate wing lift for single tank use.

Background Information (Current Configuration) (Non - BP/W)

• Diving Oceanic Excursion
• 12.2 L Steel Faber Tanks 232 Bar
• Dive Drysuit with 21 pounds of lead, sink with near empty BCD.
• Wetsuit 7mm with 18 pounds of lead, just sink perfectly with empty BCD.

My thought from this was that with the amount of lead I carry when diving and to be open for other gear changes in the near future, I would need around a 25 - 30 pounds of lift. As such I have been looking at the following wings…

Wings

1. Apeks WTX-D30
2. Dolphin Tech 30
3. Hollis S25 LX
4. OxyCheq 30 MACH V

Can i Have a smaller wing as when correctly weighted surely the amount of lift required is very minimal. eg 18 pounds lift??

 

[almostDIR]

I personally dive with a 17L Ursuit wing with about the similar amount of lead than you or little less and either 12L 232bar or 10L 300bar steel tanks. the 17L is a little too much (could easily use a stage bottle or two with it without any problems I think)... I believe a 14L wing would work perfectly well for the same application if not using stages . that is around 30 pounds of lift I believe? that would have the little bit of extra lift needed to balance things out when the wetsuit compresses or if the drysuit floods. If you would use a very small wing like the 18 pounds it would be needed to have droppable weights so that you can get to the surface and be able to float there in case of emergency

 

[Griffo]

You're going to want the 30lb wing for your setup. You need to assume the worst case - which is wing failure at depth when your wet-suit is compressed right at the beginning of the dive when you have a heavy tank. You also want to account adding some gear such as lights etc and be able to add a little extra neoprene (maybe a vest, gloves, booties, hoods)

I'ts worth checking out the awesome buoyancy calculator
Optimal Buoyancy Computer

P.S I dive with a 32lb wing in Melbourne when diving wet or dry. I can only imagine you'll be wearing more thermal protection thus need at least as much lift.

edit: PS to convert wings in L to lbs of lift, just assume 1L = 1KG (close enough) and convert to lbs. So just multiply x 2.2. Close enough to convert 14L = 30lbs.

 

[Zef]

I second the recommendation for a 30-32lb lift wing. It will adequatly float you, does not add significant amounts of material to affect your streamline more than a 23lbs or 18lb wing and gives you some extra buoyancy should you need to help sort someone out on the surface.

On that rare occasion where you are involved in a rescue the extra buoyancy might come in handy but the more realistic example is a dive partner handing you gear or their weight belt or pocket on the surface, temporarily, while they sort themself out...the extra lift capacity of the 30-32lb wing will afford you the opportunity to assist in this way without causing you to struggle to keep your head above the surface.

-Z

 

[ams511]

With your wing selection I would go with the Oxycheq 30. Oxycheq wings are made in USA and built well. Also the Oxycheq uses standard fittings. I do not believe the Apeks does not sure about Hollis or Dolphin Tech.

If you are open to other wings people seem to like the VDH wing. DGX also seems like a good choice. Good luck with your search.

 

[runsongas]

the new dgx wing is hard to beat for value

 

[Griffo]

BTW the Oxycheq and Dolphin wings require the use of a single-tank adaptor, as they only have bolt holes. They may or may not line up with your Hollis plates.

The Apeks does have slots to thread the cambands through the plate, but as to whether they line up with the Hollis plate slots or not? Who knows
The DR/DGX wing will fit anything pretty much due to it's design, I have no experience with them. Other options might be HOG or Deep6.

Even with shipping they'd can work out cheaper than buying local. Are you looking on Scubadoctor by chance? They're the first hit I got on those Dolphin wings.

 

[Alekath]

Looking at those other options I do really like the look for the VDH, material quality is better than the DGX (On par with Apeks) and I think for me paying $50 extra is worth the added durability. Also I believe the added 5 pounds of lift over the others is an added bonus when reviews suggest the VDH is nearly as streamlined as a 23 pound wing.

P.S Also it ships to Aus for a fair price, added bonus!

 

[Alekath]

BTW the Oxycheq and Dolphin wings require the use of a single-tank adaptor, as they only have bolt holes. They may or may not line up with your Hollis plates.

The Apeks does have slots to thread the cambands through the plate, but as to whether they line up with the Hollis plate slots or not? Who knows
The DR/DGX wing will fit anything pretty much due to it's design, I have no experience with them. Other options might be HOG or Deep6.

Even with shipping they'd can work out cheaper than buying local. Are you looking on Scubadoctor by chance? They're the first hit I got on those Dolphin wings.

Yeah, I have been looking on scuba-doctor and most other Australian dive shops for good deals. Considering using a single tank adapter anyway to take a few more pounds from the waist to back. As above I do like the look of the VDH wing, any thoughts on that? $50 shipping to AUS.

 

[Griffo]

Yeah, I have been looking on scuba-doctor and most other Australian dive shops for good deals. Considering using a single tank adapter anyway to take a few more pounds from the waist to back. As above I do like the look of the VDH wing, any thoughts on that? $50 shipping to AUS.

Looks like a good wing and people seem to like it. It's a bit hard to tell from the photos on the site whether it accepts normal 2" cam-bands but i *think* it does. Might be worth shooting them a note if nobody here jumps in.